Jerk Black Bean Stew with Sweet Potato and Lime
A thick, smoky vegan stew of sweet potato and black beans, warmed through with jerk spices, coconut and a squeeze of lime.
Made with Homemade vegetable stock and Jerk marinade. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time55 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.95 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Cook the onion and red pepper for 8 minutes, until soft.
8 min - 2
Stir in 90 ml of your ready made jerk marinade (see the base recipe) and cook for 2 minutes, until it smells fragrant.
- 3
Add the sweet potato, black beans, tomatoes and 400 ml of your ready made homemade vegetable stock (see the base recipe). Bring to a simmer.
- 4
Cover and cook for 25 minutes, stirring now and then, until the sweet potato is tender.
25 min - 5
Stir in the coconut milk and lime juice. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes to thicken, then season to taste.
5 min - 6
Meanwhile, cook the rice according to the packet instructions. Serve the stew over the rice, scattered with coriander.
Tips
- For a thicker stew, mash a ladleful of the sweet potato and beans against the side of the pan and stir it back in.
- Add the lime juice at the end. Cooking it for a long time dulls the fresh sharpness.
- Top with sliced avocado or dairy free coconut yoghurt to cool the heat.
Storing and freezing
Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days, cooled within 2 hours of cooking. Freeze in portions for up to 3 months and reheat until steaming hot all the way through. Cool and chill any leftover rice quickly and reheat it only once.
Questions
Is this stew very hot?
It has a medium to hot kick from the jerk marinade, softened by the sweet potato and coconut. Use 60 ml of marinade for a milder pot, and taste before adding more.
Can I use kidney beans instead of black beans?
Yes, tinned kidney beans or pinto beans work equally well. Drain and rinse any tinned beans first. Never use dried kidney beans without soaking and boiling them hard for 10 minutes.
Is it vegan and gluten free?
Yes. The ingredients are all vegan and gluten free, and so are the jerk marinade and the homemade vegetable stock bases. It is also dairy free, egg free and nut free.
More made with homemade vegetable stock
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.